Dual-camera apparatus for deriving dimensional measurements and method of personalizing lens selection

ABSTRACT

A dual-camera apparatus derives dimensional measurements of an object. The apparatus comprises a pair of digital cameras each comprising a lens and capable of producing an image of the object. A ratio of known distance units to pixels is established for the apparatus and applied to images generated by each of the digital cameras. The lenses are spaced apart at a first known distance. In operation, the first known distance and the established ratio provide a trigonometric basis for ascertaining distances between at least two features on the object. A calibration template can be used to establish the ratio of known distance units to pixels. The object can be a human subject, and the at least two features can be associated with the human subject&#39;s eyes, the human subject&#39;s feet, and/or other human body parts. The disclosure also relates to a method in aiding in lens selection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/311,890 filed Jun. 23, 2014 entitled “Dual-Camera Apparatusand Method for Deriving Dimensional Measurements” which is related toand claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/838,304filed Jun. 23, 2013 also entitled “Dual-Camera Apparatus and Method forDeriving Dimensional Measurements.” The application also is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/183,532filed Jul. 15, 2011 entitled “Method of Providing Prescription SafetyEyewear” which is related to and claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/364,895, filed Jul. 16, 2010 entitled “Methodand Apparatus for Providing Prescription Eyewear” and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/372,559, filed Aug. 11, 2010 entitled “Methodand Apparatus for Providing Prescription Safety Eyewear”. Thisapplication also claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/091,626 filed Dec. 15, 2014 entitled “Dual-CameraApparatus for Deriving Dimensional Measurements and Method ofPersonalizing Lens Selection”. The '890, '304, '532, '895, '559, '626applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to measurement devices and, inparticular, to an apparatus that employs two cameras spaced apart at aknown distance, which measures and facilitates the determination of thedimensions between two or more features of an object or a human subject.The disclosure also relates to a method that aids individuals inselecting the proper and/or desired lens(es) for their needs and/orwants.

This disclosure also relates generally to the provision of prescriptioneyewear and more specifically to the provision of prescription safetyeyewear to employees for use in the workplace.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many workplaces require employees to wear safety glasses at theworkplace. This requirement is generally a matter of worker safety butis also usually required by state and federal law. Workers who needcorrective lenses have a choice of wearing prescription safety eyewearor wearing bulky, usually uncomfortable, safety goggles over theirregular prescription eyewear. Many workers who need corrective lensesprefer to wear prescription safety eyewear for reasons of at leastcomfort and appearance. Accordingly, there is a need for prescriptionsafety eyewear for use in the workplace.

Many employers, therefore, provide prescription safety eyewear as anemployment benefit, paying for some or all of the cost of such eyewear.Conventionally, however, employees have to obtain their own prescriptioneyewear and submit the cost for reimbursement, which is inconvenient forboth the employer and the employee. For example, administrativedifficulties arise for the employer in tracking eligibility forbenefits. Employees might resent having to spend personal time obtainingcompany-required equipment. One alternative is to have employees orderfrom a catalog, which presents problems as to fit of the eyewear on theemployee. Another alternative is to have an eyewear seller come to theplace of employment for selection and fitting of prescription safetyeyewear, which does not work well for employees who, for example, areassigned to a late shift or who are absent from the plant on vacation oron business on the day the seller is present at the place of employment.

In fitting apparel to be worn by persons performing work in potentiallyhazardous settings, such as a factory, plant, or construction site, itis important to have the ability to conveniently measure the dimensionsof the workers' body parts on which the apparel is to be worn. Thetraditional process of fitting employees with personal protectiveequipment (PPE) is inefficient and cumbersome. An employee must firstinteract with a human resources personnel, safety specialists and/oroutside vendors to ascertain the required PPE and options for selectingthe individual apparel components. For example, a particular factory mayrequire a specific type of safety glasses and/or hard-toed shoes.

In the traditional process, once the employer specifies the requiredcomplement of PPE, the employee normally has choices regarding theparticular design aspects of the individual components. In the case ofhard-toed protective shoes, for example, an employee would normallyselect their size, color and style. One way for an employee to beoutfitted with PPE is to visit a company or commercial store to bemeasured and then make selections. Another method some companies employis to direct their employees to websites offering selections once theappropriate dimensional measurements of the employee have been taken.

Recently, manufacturing facilities and construction sites have usedsystems that employ a conventional digital camera to ascertain thedimensional measurements of an employee. Since those conventionalsystems only employ a single camera, a template with known indicia ofdistances must be placed on or near the human subject during themeasurement process. In this way, the dimensional measurements of thehuman subject's body parts on which the PPE is to be worn can beaccurately derived. It would be beneficial if such a template was notneeded, as it is often inconvenient to use in the work place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other shortcomings of conventional measuringtechniques are overcome by a dual-camera apparatus for derivingdimensional measurements of an object. The apparatus comprises a pair ofdigital cameras each comprising a lens and capable of producing an imageof the object. The apparatus establishes a ratio of known distance unitsto pixels in images generated by each of the digital cameras. The lensesare spaced apart at a first known distance. In operation, the firstknown distance and the established ratio provide a trigonometric basisfor ascertaining distances between at least two features on the object.

In one embodiment, the object is a human subject. At least two featurescan be associated with the human subject's eyes, the human subject'sfeet, the human subject's hands, the human subject's head and/or otherhuman body parts.

A system for deriving dimensional measurements of an object comprises:

-   -   (a) a housing;    -   (b) a pair of digital camera lenses encased within the housing        and capable of producing an image of the object external to the        housing, the lenses spaced apart at a first known distance; and    -   (c) a calibration template for establishing a ratio of known        distance units to pixels in images generated by each of the        digital cameras.

In operation, the first known distance and the established ratio providea trigonometric basis for ascertaining distances between at least twofeatures on the object.

Shortcomings of conventional measuring techniques are also overcome by amethod for deriving dimensional measurements of an object. The methodcomprises:

-   -   (a) spacing apart a pair of digital cameras at a first known        distance, each of the digital cameras comprising a lens and        capable of producing an image of the object;    -   (b) generating images from each of the digital cameras of a        calibration template, thereby establishing a ratio of known        distance units to pixels in images generated by the digital        cameras; and    -   (c) ascertaining distances between at least two features on the        object using trigonometric calculations based upon the first        known distance and the established ratio.

In one embodiment, the object is a human subject. At least two featurescan be associated with the human subject's eyes, the human subject'sfeet, and/or other body parts.

A system for an employer to provide safety prescription eyewear toemployees involves providing a kiosk at or near a place of employment,allowing employees to access the kiosk virtually to try on variousmodels of frames and to submit prescription information, and causing theprescription safety eyewear to be manufactured and shipped. Employeebenefits can be handled at the kiosk as are other options availablerelating to, for examples, the selected frame, the prescription lenses,and the method of shipping. Payments in excess of the benefit areaccounted for by payment at the kiosk or by payroll deduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a kiosk.

FIG. 2A is a sample first screenshot seen by an employee accessing thekiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a log-in screenshot seen by an employee accessing the kioskof FIG. 1.

FIG. 2C is an account confirmation screenshot seen by an employeeaccessing the kiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2D is a photography screenshot seen by an employee accessing thekiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2E is a screenshot showing an employee accessing the kiosk of FIG.1.

FIG. 2F is a screenshot showing an image of the employee of FIG. 2E withthe template alignment tool and pupil alignment tool superimposedthereon.

FIG. 2G is a magnified portion of a screenshot showing the image of FIG.2F with the pupil alignment tool properly adjusted.

FIG. 2H is a screenshot showing the image of FIG. 2F with the templatealignment tool properly adjusted.

FIG. 2I is a screenshot of the frame selection menu and displayedphotograph showing a frame selected by the employee accessing the kioskof FIG. 1.

FIG. 2J is a optometry prescription display screenshot seen by anemployee accessing the kiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2K is a scanner-prompt screenshot seen by an employee accessing thekiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2L is a lens options screenshot seen by an employee accessing thekiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2M is a lens material options screenshot seen by an employeeaccessing the kiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2N is another lens recommendations screenshot seen by an employeeaccessing the kiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2O is yet another further options screenshot seen by an employeeaccessing the kiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2P is a confirmation of selection screenshot seen by an employeeaccessing the kiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2Q is a confirmation of employer benefits screenshot seen by anemployee accessing the kiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2R is a final payment screenshot seen by an employee accessing thekiosk of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a horizontal dual-camera apparatus forderiving dimensional measurements.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3, and whichshows the two cameras, spaced apart at a known distance, employed in theapparatus.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, andshows in particular the clip for mounting the apparatus on a computerscreen or other upright surface.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, andshows, in particular, the calibration setup for determining the distancefrom a reference plane to the plane of the housing front face containingthe dual camera lenses.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of a horizontal dual-camera apparatusin which the fixed, known distance between the cameras is indicated, aswell as the alignment of the horizontal and vertical axes associatedwith the cameras.

FIG. 8 is schematic diagram illustrating a template or ruler forconverting a distance measurement to a number of pixels in a digitalcamera device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the side of a vertical dual-cameraapparatus for deriving dimensional measurements.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the back of the vertical dual-cameraapparatus illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the front of the vertical dual-cameraapparatus illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 9-11, andshows, in particular, the calibration setup for determining the distancefrom a reference plane to the plane of the housing front face containingthe dual camera lenses.

FIG. 13 is schematic diagram of a method of personalizing lensselection.

FIG. 14 is a screenshot of an initial survey page of a lens selectionprogram.

FIG. 15 is a screenshot of a page shown to individuals who indicate thatthey are under a given age in the survey of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a screenshot of a page shown to individuals who indicate thatthey are over a given age in the survey of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a screenshot of a page shown to individuals who chose thenon-recommended option in the page shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a screenshot of a page shown to individuals who chose thenon-recommended option in the page shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a screenshot of a page of a lens selection program whichillustrates the difference between lined bifocals and no-linedprogressive lenses.

FIG. 20 is a screenshot of another page of a lens selection programwhich illustrates the difference between lined bifocals and no-linedprogressive lenses.

FIG. 21 is a screenshot of a page of a lens selection program whichillustrates the difference a user will experience between two differentlenses.

FIG. 22 is an option selection page of a lens selection program.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Turning first to FIG. 1, a system comprises kiosk 20. Kiosk 20 comprisesframe 22, central processing unit 24, and computer peripherals 26 whichcan include keyboard 28, mouse 30, scanner 32, display 34, camera 36,and printer 38. Computer peripherals 26 can be set on, mounted on,connected to, or nearby frame 22. Computer peripherals 26 can be coupledto CPU 24 wirelessly, as shown, or by hard wires. CPU 24 can beconnected to the Internet by a wireless connection, as shown, or by hardwire. The Internet connection is preferably a broad-band connection suchas DSL or T1. Alternatively, CPU 24 can connect to the employer'sintranet. Also included with kiosk 20 is a fitting tool, template 40,which is used for fitting.

Kiosk 20 can also have microphone 42 for voice-activated commands, inwhich case CPU 24 is programmed with voice-activation software. Thefollowing description assumes the entry of commands using keyboard 28and mouse 30, however the same results can be used by programming CPU 24to recognize voice commands received through microphone 42.

Mouse 30 can be replaced by a touchpad, joystick, or other peripheral.Display 34 can be a touch screen display, in which case mouse 30 is notrequired.

In some embodiments display 34 is a flat-screen LCD with internalspeakers 42. Display 34 can be other types, such as a CRT screen,another type of flat screen, or other visual display, and kiosk 20 canhave speakers external to display 34. The following description will befor an embodiment using internal speakers for voice commands andprompts, but, alternatively, kiosk 20 can operate without speakers anddisplay commands and prompts in writing only.

A preferred embodiment applies to safety eyewear for company employees.Accordingly, the following description will be for an embodiment inwhich a kiosk is placed at a placed of employment or affiliatedfacility. The kiosk can also be placed in a retail store in which theuser purchases his or her own safety eyewear, either for work use or forpersonal use.

In a preferred embodiment, an employee who wishes to obtain prescriptionsafety eyewear begins by accessing kiosk 20. Kiosk 20 is meant to belocated at an employer's workplace, such as a manufacturing plant. Kiosk20 can be located conveniently for the employees, such as in or adjacentto locker rooms, break rooms, cafeterias, front offices, or at otherconvenient locations such as an employee credit union or a labor unionoffice.

The employee initiates kiosk 20 by entering a key on keyboard 28 or bymoving mouse 30. Alternatively, an on-off switch can be provided or aproximity switch can be used to start kiosk 20 upon the approach of aperson. The first screenshot seen by the employee upon initiating kiosk20 is shown in FIG. 2A, which is a general welcome screen and preferablyhas a choice of languages for selection by the employee whereappropriate. Selection of a language brings up the screenshot shown inFIG. 2B, which is a conventional log-in screen. The employee then useskeyboard 28 to enter a company-issued identification name or number anda password. Kiosk 20 verifies the employee's identity and authority toaccess kiosk 20, either by comparison to data stored in CPU 24 or bycomparison to data stored in a central server 46 that is accessed by CPU24 over the Internet or local intranet. Other types of verification canbe used including, but not limited to, a magnetic card reader or MDreader for employee identification cards. The employee in thesesituations can swipe an employee identification card or a benefits cardthrough a magnetic card reader, or holds the employee identificationcard or benefits card near the RFID reader.

Upon recognition and authentication of the employee, kiosk 20 displaysthe screenshot shown in FIG. 2C, which confirms the employee's name,email address, employee identification number, amount of benefitsavailable, and expiration of eligibility for the benefits. The employeeconfirms or edits this information and then confirms, by clicking a“Next” button with mouse 30.

The employee is then presented by the screenshot shown in FIG. 2D. Avoice command advises the employee to affix template 40 to his or herforehead, to stand before camera 36 and look directly into the lens ofcamera 36. The employee's image is then shown on display 34, as shown inFIG. 2E. The employee takes a photograph by clicking the “Take Photo”icon, by entering a key, such as a specifically-named key, on keyboard28.

CPU 24 receives digital data from camera 36 and creates image 50 of theemployee. In some embodiments the image is in jpeg format. Usingconventional digital recognition software, CPU 24 can rotate image 50and automatically provide other digital image processing to correct forimproper lighting or other imaging issues.

Kiosk 20 now displays image 50 on display 34 on the screenshot shown inFIG. 2F, with template alignment tool 52 and pupil alignment tool 54superimposed on image 50. Both template alignment tool 52 and pupilalignment tool 54 are software-implemented tools programmed into CPU 24to superimpose images on image 50. As shown in FIG. 2F, tools 52 and 54are not properly aligned.

Kiosk 20 instructs the employee to use mouse 30 to move pupil alignmenttool 54 to place two circles 58 a, 58 b on the pupils of the employee'simage 50, as shown in FIG. 2G. When the employee has done so andconfirms by clicking “Next”, kiosk 20 instructs the employee to usemouse 30 to move the two circles 56 a, 56 b of template alignment tool52 to opposite edges of template 40 as it appears in image 50 on theforehead of the employee. As shown in FIG. 2H, both pupil alignment tool54 and template alignment tool 52 are properly aligned on the image ofthe employee's face. The employee clicks the “Next” icon when finished,or opts for a different picture.

In another embodiment, CPU 24 is programmed with autodetect software.CPU 24 detects the employee's eyes and detects template 40 on the image.In this embodiment, the employee then confirms that CPU 24 has properlyautodetected the pupils and template 40.

CPU 24, knowing the distance between the opposite edges of template 40,calculates the pupil distance between the employee's eyes, regardless ofthe distance between the employee's face and camera 36 at the time image50 was captured.

The employee now selects a frame from a menu. As illustrated in FIG. 2I,the employee can navigate through the menu by clicking arrows on eitherside. Other types of menu navigation procedures can be used. When theemployee sees a desired frame, he or she clicks on the frame, wherebythe selected frame is superimposed over image 50. The CPU 24 hascalculated the employee's pupil distance using template alignment tool52 and pupil alignment tool 54, and therefore has information relatingto the relative size of the employee's face in image 50, from template40, thus the CPU 24 automatically sizes the selected frame properly tofit on the employee's face in image 50. The employee is prompted toclick and drag the selected frame to adjust its location on the image.Accordingly, the employee can see how he or she will look in theselected, properly-fitted frame, as shown in FIG. 2I.

If the employee is satisfied with the selected frame, the processcontinues. Otherwise, the employee can select a different frame and seehow he or she will look in that different selection. The employee cancontinue until a final selection is made. If available under companybenefit's policy, or if the employee chooses at his or he own cost, theemployee can select more than one frame for purchase.

The employee can, at this point, choose to print image 50 with aselected frame shown thereon, and to save the data up to this point. Theemployee can take printed image 50, or even several printed images 50with different selected frames, for further consideration or to obtainopinions from others, before returning at a later time and picking upthe process again at this point.

If the employee is satisfied with the selected frame, kiosk 20 nowproceeds to the screenshot shown in FIG. 2J. The employee's lastprescription, if available, is called from memory, either from thememory of CPU 24 or from central server 46, and is displayed. Theemployee is given the option to use the current prescription if it isrecent, by clicking the “Next” icon. Kiosk 20 can check the age of theprescription and can be programmed to refuse to accept a prescriptionolder than a predetermined age. Even if the initial prescription is notexpired, the employee can be given the option to scan in a newprescription, to fax a new prescription later, or to suggest contactwith the employee's optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist, asdescribed in FIG. 2J.

If the employee has a new prescription or is a new employee, the nextscreenshot, shown in FIG. 2K, displays instructions on scanning theprescription using scanner 32. The employee then scans the prescriptioninto scanner 32, which relays that information to CPU 24, and theemployee's database is updated thereby.

Kiosk 20 confirms that the prescription was properly scanned anddownloaded, and gives the employee an option to rescan. Otherwise, whenthe employee accepts that the prescription has been scanned, kiosk 20proceeds to the options available to the employee.

Some sample options are shown in the next several screens. Thescreenshot shown in FIG. 2L shows options for lens type. The screenshotshown in FIG. 2M shows options for lens material. The employee chooseswhatever options are desired from those screens and navigates to thenext screen by clicking “Next.” The following screenshot, shown in FIG.2N, provides recommendations to the employee as to the optionsavailable, and permits the employee to go back to the screenshots shownin FIGS. 2L and 2M to re-select options.

Additional features, such as anti-reflective coating, color, oranti-scratch coatings are presented in the screenshot shown in FIG. 2O.The employee selects whatever additional features are desired andproceeds to the next screenshot, shown in FIG. 2P. Here, the totalpackage is summarized and the final cost is given. The employee is giventhe option of saving for later, completing the transaction, or startingover.

If the employee chooses to complete the transaction, the screenshotshown in FIG. 2Q is shown, summarizing the order, applying the benefits,if any, and asking the employee to complete the transaction. If theemployee chooses to complete the transaction, the final screenshot,shown in FIG. 2R, is shown, with the final details. If a balance is due,such as if the employee went over the employer's benefit, an option isgiven to pay by credit card or by payroll deduction (if available).Printer 38 will print a confirmation for the employee for record-keepingpurposes, such as tax deduction, if available. Alternatively, kiosk 20will email the confirmation to the employee, using a stored emailaddress or by prompting for entry of an email address.

After completion of the transaction, kiosk 20 transmits to centralserver 46 the details of the transaction. These details include theselected frame, selected options for the selected frame, the employee'sprescription, the selected lens, selected options for the selected lens,the financial details, such as cost of the frame, lenses, and selectedoptions, less the employer's benefit, and any discounts that can apply.

In some cases, the employee has not submitted a current prescription.The operator, its agent, or its contractor locates the fax sent by theemployee, if that option was used, and manually enter the prescriptioninformation into central server 46.

In other cases, the employee chose the option of requiring the operatorto contact the optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist. In thesesituations, the operator, its agent, or its contractor contacts theoptician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist for the prescriptioninformation and manually enters it, or obtain a fax from the optician,optometrist, or ophthalmologist and manually enters the prescriptioninformation from that document.

The operator of kiosk 20 then prepares the employee's selectedprescription safety eyewear, either in-house or using one or morecontractors. The operator or a designated contractor either has theselected frame, in the correct size and with the selected options, orpurchases the selected frame with the selected options from amanufacturer or broker, The operator then either obtains or makes thelenses in-house, to meet the employee's prescription and selectedoptions. The operator then assembles the lenses to the frame, againeither in-house or using a suitable outside contractor. Finallyassembled prescription safety eyewear is shipped.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2R, the final eyewear isshipped to the employer's place of business, such as the SafetyDepartment. The Safety Department has the option, if the employerdesires, of verifying that the selected frame and lenses are appropriateand meet government and industry standards, and then distributes theeyewear to the employee. The employer could also accepts that frames andlenses supplied by a given operator are appropriate. Additionally, theeyewear can shipped directly to the employee. In that case, anadditional screenshot is used in kiosk 20 to select shipping options,such as overnight, air freight, or standard. In some embodiments theadditional charges associated with these shipping options are shown.

One benefit of the above embodiments is that the kiosk is readilyavailable and is located at the workplace or at some other convenientlocation. The employee therefore does not have to shop for eyewear onhis or her own time and does not have to come to work at an inconvenientor unscheduled time. The employee is also assured that whatever eyewearhe or she selects will meet company requirements, as the employer willrequire the operator to limit frame selection, lens selection, andoptions to those meeting company, industry and/or governmentalstandards. The employee will also have benefits automatically applied,without having to go through an arduous and possibly slow reimbursementprocedure. The employee can also easily check what benefits areavailable and if a new benefit term has been reached.

The employer using the system of the described embodiments can beassured that employees will only purchase eyewear meeting company,industry, and/or governmental standards. The employer therefore canforego checking individual employees' eyewear purchases to be sure theeyewear is compliant. The employer can be assured that personnel who arerequired to wear safety eyewear and who need prescription safety eyewearare obtaining properly-fitted, safety-standard-compliant equipment andare able to do so in a convenient manner. The employer also knows whenparticular employees have ordered new eyewear and can take steps to makesure employees are keeping their safety equipment current and in goodrepair.

The employer also has benefits automatically applied to its employees'purchase of safety prescription eyewear, saving the trouble ofprocessing numerous hand-written reimbursement requests and allowing foreasier, more transparent accounting of costs in this area.

The system as described can also be used for non-prescription eyewear.The software is merely modified to provide that the employee can skipthe step of submitting a prescription.

A preferred embodiment of the above method comprises the followingsteps, not all of which are necessary and which need not be performed inthe following order except where required by logic.

Step 101: The employee obtains a prescription for eyeglasses from anophthalmologist, optometrist, or other health-care provider.

Step 102: The employee accesses a kiosk at or near the workplace orother convenient location by logging on, preferably with a useridentification and password.

Step 103: The kiosk displays the authorization code, expiration date,and amount of benefits available on the display screen.

Step 104: The employee places a template on his or her forehead.

Step 105: The employee aligns his face with the camera of the computerscreen and checks for proper alignment.

Step 106: The kiosk verifies proper alignment and advises the employeeto adjust, if necessary.

Step 107: The employee causes the kiosk to photograph the employee'sface by clicking a button.

Step 108: The kiosk corrects rotation of the employee's face inphotograph, if necessary, and displays the corrected photograph on thedisplay with the template measuring tool and the pupil measuring tool.

Step 109: The employee adjusts the template measuring tool to match thetemplate displayed in the photograph.

Step 110: The employee adjusts the pupil measuring tool to match thepupils displayed in the photograph.

Step 111: The employee accepts the adjustment of the photograph orre-adjusts the template measuring tool or the pupil measuring tool, orchooses to take a new photograph.

Step 112: The employee selects frames from a menu and clicks on aselected frame.

Step 113: The kiosk displays the details of the selected frame, such asbrand, material, color, shape, and price.

Step 114: The kiosk displays options available for the selected frame,such as color.

Step 115: The kiosk displays the selected frame on the photograph.

Step 116: The employee accepts the selected frame, or changes theoptions, if any, or selects a different frame from the menu.

Step 117: The employee can save a selected frame at this point andreturn later.

Step 118: When the employee has accepted a selected frame, the kioskprompts the employee to enter the prescription information, preferablyby scanner.

Step 119: The employee enters the prescription information, preferablyby inserting a current and valid prescription from his or her doctorinto the scanner.

Step 120: The kiosk displays the scanned prescription form and promptsthe employee to accept the scan or to rescan.

Step 121: The kiosk displays a menu of lens options, if available.

Step 122: The employee selects lens options, if available.

Step 123: The kiosk displays prices based on the employee's selection ofoptions.

Step 124: The kiosk displays recommendations for unselected options, ifappropriate.

Step 125: The employee confirms the original selection or selects otheroptions.

Step 126: Upon confirmation, the kiosk displays the final product andtotal cost.

Step 127: The employee selects shipping options, if available (forexamples, overnight or standard freight), and location to be shipped(for examples, home or place of employment).

Step 128: The kiosk calculates the employer benefit, if available,applies that benefit to the total cost, applies a discount, ifapplicable, applies a shipping charge, if applicable, computes taxesdue, if any, and displays a net cost.

Step 129: The employee confirms the order.

Step 130: If money is due in excess of the employer's benefit, the kioskprompts the employee for payment, such as by payroll deduction or creditcard.

Step 131: The kiosk provider purchases the selected frame or picks theselected frame from previously-purchased stock, causes the lenses to bemanufactured and applied to the selected frame, and causes the assembledeyewear to be shipped to the location previously selected.

Turning to FIG. 3, dual-camera apparatus 310 includes housing 311 inwhich digital cameras with lenses 312 a and 312 b are encased. Digitalcameras lenses 312 a and 312 b are spaced apart at a fixed, knowndistance. An articulated clip 316 extends from housing 311 and isconfigured to be mounted and retained on the top edge of a computerscreen or other thin, upright structure (not shown).

Fasteners, one of which is denoted in FIG. 3 as threaded fastener 314,when removed provide access to the interior of housing 311, whichcontains the wires and other customary electronic components to transmitelectrical signals from apparatus 310 to an operatively connectedcomputer (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows a front view of dual-camera apparatus 310, includingdigital camera lenses 312 a, 312 b encased in housing 311, as well asmounting clip 316 and fastener 314. Similarly, FIG. 5 is a back view ofapparatus 310 showing housing 311 and mounting clip 316.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, dual-camera apparatus 310 allows for a singlecalibration to be performed during the manufacturing or installationprocess. Once calibrated, apparatus 310 can remain in a calibrated statefor long durations. Turning to FIG. 8, the calibration process includesthe correlation of pixels to standard (for example, metric and/orEnglish) dimensional units, as shown in the calibration ruler ortemplate 330, in which a known length 332 is correlated to a number ofpixels 334.

Using the distances established for dual-camera apparatus 310 (namely,known distance 322 in FIG. 7 and distance 340 in FIG. 6 derived fromimages taken by the digital cameras of the calibration template),horizontal and vertical axes can be established. Distance 322, as shownin FIG. 7, is the known distance between the centerlines of cameralenses 312 a, 312 b. In one embodiment distance 322 is about 120 mm. Inother embodiments distance 322 is reduced to about 40 mm. Reducingdistance 322 reduces the stereo correspondence problem which can occurwhen the two images taken from the two lenses 312 a and 312 b arecombined. This reduced stereo correspondence problem leads to improvedmeasurements and in at least some embodiments reduces the chance thatone or more of user's eyes are not captured when a user does notcorrectly center himself between the two lenses 312 a and 312 b.

As shown in FIG. 6, distance 340 can be calculated as the distancebetween apparatus reference plane 338 and parallel calibration templatereference plane 336. Apparatus reference plane 338 is established by thefront face of housing 311, which is assumed to be co-extensive with thefront surface of the camera lenses, one of which is shown in phantomlines in FIG. 6 as camera lens 312 b. Template reference plane 336 isestablished by face of calibration template 330.

The apparatus can thus compensate for zooming in/out relative to anobject, as well as rotational deviations from the calculated horizontaland vertical axes, by reference to the distance values established inthe initial calibration process.

In the case of fitting an employee with personal protective equipment, asubject's body features associated with the apparel as worn are measuredand derived from the digital camera images. The images of the subjectcan be accurately reconfigured (that is, rotated and/or zoomed in/out)to match the scale of a fixed digital display of the apparel beingfitted.

Similar to horizontal dual-camera apparatus 310 of FIGS. 3-8, FIG. 9shows vertical dual-camera apparatus 350 which includes housing 351 inwhich digital cameras with lenses 352 a and 352 b are encased. Digitalcameras lenses 352 a, 352 b are spaced apart at a fixed, known distance.In some embodiments the digital cameras can have auto-focuscapabilities.

Hinge 356 extends from housing 351 and is configured to be mounted andretained on the top edge of a computer screen or other, uprightstructure such as a kiosk (not shown). In some embodiments hinge 356acts as a stand. In at least one embodiment, hinge 356 has a range ofabout 110 degrees. In some embodiments the tension in hinge 356 isadjustable.

Fasteners, one of which is denoted in FIG. 10 as threaded fastener 354,when removed provide access to the interior of housing 351, whichcontains the wires and other customary electronic components to transmitelectrical signals from apparatus 350 to an operatively connectedcomputer (not shown).

FIG. 10 shows a back perspective view of vertical dual-camera apparatus350, including hinge 356 and fastener 354. FIG. 10 also shows optionalcables 359 a and 359 b which can connect apparatus 350 to a computerand/or network. In other embodiments apparatus 350 connects to acomputer and/or network wirelessly.

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of apparatus 350 showing housing 351and lenses 352 a and 352 b along with the distance 362 between lenses352 a and 52 b.

Similar to apparatus 310 in FIGS. 6 and 7, vertical dual-cameraapparatus 350 allows for a single calibration to be performed during themanufacturing or installation process. Once calibrated, apparatus 350can remain in a calibrated state for long durations. The calibrationprocess includes the correlation of pixels to standard (for example,metric and/or English) dimensional units.

Using the distances established for dual-camera apparatus 350 (namely,known distance 362 in FIG. 11 and distance 390 in FIG. 12 derived fromimages taken by the digital cameras of the calibration template),horizontal and vertical axes can be established. Distance 362, as shownin FIG. 11, is the known distance between the centerlines of cameralenses 352 a, 352 b. In one embodiment distance 362 is about 40 mm.

As shown in FIG. 12, distance 380 can be calculated as the distancebetween apparatus reference plane 388 and parallel calibration templatereference plane 386. Apparatus reference plane 388 is established by thefront face of housing 351, which is assumed to be co-extensive with thefront surface of the camera lenses, one of which is shown in phantomlines in FIG. 6 as camera lens 352 b. Template reference plane 386 isestablished by face of calibration template 380.

The apparatus can thus compensate for zooming in/out relative to anobject, as well as rotational deviations from the calculated horizontaland vertical axes, by reference to the distance values established inthe initial calibration process.

In the case of fitting an employee with personal protective equipment, asubject's body features associated with the apparel as worn are measuredand derived from the digital camera images. The images of the subjectcan be accurately reconfigured (that is, rotated and/or zoomed in/out)to match the scale of a fixed digital display of the apparel beingfitted.

FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of method 2000 of personalizinglens selection. Starting at step 100 a user, such as, but not limitedto, an employee or patient, logs into the lens selection tool. The useris then directed to step 110 in which a survey page, such as the oneillustrated in FIG. 14 is shown. In step 110 the user is given theoption to indicate, among other factors, his age. The user can indicatehis age, among other methods, by entering a birthdate, entering his agein years, or choosing the appropriate age range from a collection ofselectable ranges. Additional factors the survey page can collectinclude, among other things, the user's sex, job responsibilities, andwhether this is the first time the user is wearing glasses. The factorscan be used to recommend additional features, such as frame types, lenscoatings, and/or whether or not to tint a lens.

If the user indicates that he is over a given age, he is taken to step121. If he indicates he is under the given age he is taken to step 122.In one embodiment this given age is 40 years old.

At step 121, the user is presented with the option to select betweensingle vision lenses and bifocal/progressive lenses withbifocal/progressive lenses being recommended as the preferred lens tochoose. FIG. 16 shows an example page that can be displayed in step 121.If the user selects single vision lenses he is taken to step 301. If theuser selects bifocal/progressive lenses he proceeds to step 126.

At step 301 the user is reminded that bifocal/progressive lenses arerecommended. FIG. 18 shows an example page that can be displayed in step301. If the user again selects single vision lenses he is taken to step503. If however he changes his selection to bifocal/progressive lenseshe is taken to step 126.

At step 126 the user is asked to choose between bifocal lenses andno-line progressive lenses. In step 126 a user can be presented with agraphic and/or video such as that illustrated in FIG. 19 which shows thedifference between bifocal lenses and no-line progressive lenses. If theuser selects bifocal lenses he is taken to step 303. If the user selectsno-line progressive lenses he is taken to step 502.

In step 303 the user is asked again if he wishes to select bifocallenses. Again he can be presented with a graphic and/or video whichindicates the difference between bifocal and no-line progressive lenses.The graphic can be that shown in FIG. 19 or a new graphic, such as thatillustrated in FIG. 20. In some embodiments FIG. 20 more clearlyemphasizes the difference between bifocal and no-line progressivelenses. If the user again selects bifocal lenses he is taken to step501. If the user changes his selection to no-line progressive lenses heis taken to step 502.

In step 501 the user is allowed to select between various bifocallenses. In some embodiments the user is presented with differentgraphics, such as that illustrated in FIG. 21 indicating the variouseffects on his vision the given lenses will have. After the lensselection is made the user is taken to step 1000.

In step 502 the user is allowed to select between various progressiveno-line lenses. In some embodiments the user is presented with differentgraphics, such as that illustrated in FIG. 21 indicating the variouseffects on his vision the given lenses will have. After the lensselection is made the user is taken to step 1000.

In step 503 the user is allowed to select between various single visionlenses. In some embodiments the user is presented with differentgraphics, such as that illustrated in FIG. 21 indicating the variouseffects on his vision the given lenses will have. After the lensselection is made the user is taken to step 1000.

In step 1000, the user is given the option to select various lensoptions such as, but not limited to, lens tinting (includingTransitions™), anti-reflective treatments, scratch protection coatings,Polarized lenses, and anti-fog coatings. In some embodiments the usercan select to add various types of warranties. Once these selections aremade, the glasses can be added to the user's cart and he can proceed tocheck out.

Returning to step 122, the user is presented with the option to selectbetween single vision lenses and bifocal/progressive lenses with singlevision lenses being indicated at the preferred lenses to choose. FIG. 15shows an example page that can be displayed in step 122. If the userselects bifocal/progressive lenses he is taken to step 302. If the userselects single vision he proceeds to step 503.

At step 302 the user is reminded that single vision lenses arerecommended. FIG. 17 shows an example page that can be displayed in step302. If the user again selects bifocal/progressive lenses he is taken tostep 126. If however he changes his selection to single vision lenses heis taken to step 503.

Other steps can be included in method 2000, including, among otherthings, having the user uploading his prescription information, select aframe, and having his photo taken and/or uploaded so he can see howgiven frames will look on his face.

While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the presentinvention have been shown and described, it will be understood, that theinvention is not limited thereto since modifications can be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dual-camera apparatus for deriving dimensionalmeasurements of an object, the apparatus comprising a pair of digitalcameras each comprising a lens and capable of producing an image of saidobject, the apparatus having established therefor a ratio of knowndistance units to pixels in images generated by each of said digitalcameras, said lenses spaced apart at a first known distance, wherebysaid first known distance and said established ratio provide atrigonometric basis for ascertaining distances between at least twofeatures on said object.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidobject is a human subject.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said atleast two features are associated with said human subject's eyes.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least two features are associatedwith said human subject's feet.
 5. A system for deriving dimensionalmeasurements of an object comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a pair ofdigital camera lenses encased within said housing and capable ofproducing an image of said object external to said housing, said lensesspaced apart at a first known distance; and (c) a calibration templatefor establishing a ratio of known distance units to pixels in imagesgenerated by each of said digital cameras; whereby said first knowndistance and said established ratio provide a trigonometric basis forascertaining distances between at least two features on said object. 6.The system of claim 5, wherein said object is a human subject.
 7. Thesystem of claim 6, wherein said at least two features are associatedwith said human subject's eyes.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein saidat least two features are associated with said human subject's feet. 9.A method for aiding a user in choosing a lens the method comprising: (a)determining said user's age; (b) suggesting a recommend-lens when saiduser's age is greater than a predetermined age.
 10. The method of claim9 wherein said predetermined age is 40 years.
 11. The method of claim 10wherein said type of lens is a no-lined progressive lens.
 12. The methodof claim 11 further comprising: (c) offering a graphic illustration ofan at least one difference between said recommend-lens and anon-recommend lens.
 13. The method of claim 9 further comprising: (c)receiving a lens's option selection from said user.
 14. The method ofclaim 13 wherein said lens's option selection is adding ananti-reflective coating.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein said lens'soption selection is adding tinted coating.
 16. The method of claim 13wherein said lens's option selection is adding an anti-fog coating. 17.The method of claim 13 wherein said lens's option selection is adding awarranty.